Week 35 -- More Signs of Spring & Nursery Furniture

Spring is showing more promising signs in the Heartland. Perhaps next week the tulips will be up for posting, as they're coming up a couple inches a day! Hopefully I can catch some pictures before the wind blows them away.

As we wait for our big spring arrival, Scott and Maddie have been doing more bonding. Here is a picture from Saturday morning, before we went out to watch him play in another softball tournament.

The nursery is about ready to go. Here is the crib and glider (aka rocking chair, where many hours will be spent feeding our little friend). Thank you again to my parents for the gift of the crib and dresser! We still need a mattress and sheets for the crib and the nightstand will arrive in another week or two.

On the other side of the crib is a dresser.

And lastly, all the feeding will need a place for all the changing, so we have a smaller dresser for the changing table.

Week 33 -- 1st Weekend "Outside"

The nursery furniture arrived this weekend, but we haven't set it all up, so stayed tuned for pictures!

Otherwise, nice weather brought the start of Scott's softball games for the season. He played in a tournament Saturday and Sunday with guys from work. Here he is up to bat (sorry so far away).

And Maddie saying hello in between games.

Lastly, my sister Kathleen and her boyfriend Matt got engaged this past week while skiing in Colorado. Congratulations! We're very excited for them! (this is a picture of them in Maine last summer)

Week 32 -- Chicago Friends Shower

The baby events this week included a trip to the hospital in Omaha where I'll deliver. It was nice to see the rooms and get an idea of the big event to come in 8 weeks. The hospital visit was part of a 6-week childbirth classes program we're taking. Scott is more than overjoyed each Monday night when we have to go to class...

I flew to Chicago on Wednesday for work meetings and Friday took the day off to see friends and enjoy the city. My day included another trip to the hospital. This time Northwestern's new Women's Hospital to visit Suzanne, her husband Rob and their new baby Jake who joined them on Wednesday. Congratulations on the new arrival!

Saturday evening, while Scott watched basketball with the boys, Erin and Heather threw a shower for me. It was a lot of fun and I really appreciated it. It was a nice, intimate girls night with a yummy dinner, good laughs, and baby fun.

Other friends there were Heather, Giovana and Anne (who is due in July!).

Me and Joanna.

Heather, Erin and Charlie (8 weeks + 1 day).

Heather and Giovana.

Week 31 -- Easter Sunday with Friends

Easter Greetings!

Spring has arrived, and while it is still in the 30's, Maddie insisted on posing with the tulips (okay, inside by the fireplace, but...).

We had our friends Erin and Greg, with their kids Thomas, Jack and William, and Karen and Mike, and their kids Catherine and Michael, over for Easter dinner. The kids enjoyed an Easter egg hunt and lots of chocolate/candy. Sorry Parents for the sugar high!

In baby news, our stroller and infant carrier arrived (thank you again to Scott's aunts!) and we eagerly await the nursery furniture still. Jen's work friends showered her and another co-worker (who is also due on the same day) on Friday afternoon. It was a very nice way to start the holiday weekend. We were overwhelmed with the generosity of the gifts and thank everyone again!

Week 30 -- Third Time's the Charm!

The baby event this week was painting the bathroom off the baby's bedroom. The wallpaper had a sage green in it so we decided to carry that into the bathroom.

Historically, we have not been successful with trying for a sage green wall color. Those familiar with our Chicago place have witnessed the Michigan State Green bedroom, followed by the Shamrock Shake Minty green bedroom.

Well, we finally got it right we hope. Here's a shot of Scott hard at work.

And the final bathroom.

Week 29 (7th month): Nursery border goes up

Work continues on the nursery. Today we put up the wallpaper border, which will match the bedding set. Here's a shot of Scott hard at work, with Maddie peeking in the door trying to figure out what's going on.

Scott smoothing out the border.

A close-up of the finished border (hopefully it is still up tomorrow morning!).

And while these are pretty unflattering pictures, I've received requests for an updated shot of the belly (mind you, this picture seems to get taken on a Sunday afternoon after we've been cleaning for a couple hours!). It is week 29, which is the 2nd week of my 7th month.

Week 28 (3rd Trimester starts) -- Aunts' Shower in Chicago

This weekend Scott's Aunts hosted a shower for me in Chicago. Thank you again to Aunt Lindy, Aunt Lee and Aunt Kim!!! It was at Aunt Lindy's house, one of the best hostesses I know! Everything was beautiful and the food tasted wonderful!

Here is Aunt Lindy readying the desserts.


And Aunt Kim preparing drinks, with Aunt Lee in the far background answering the phone.

Aunt Lee was instrumental in organizing a fantastic surprise! When I first told my mom about the shower she said she wasn't going to be able to make it. But secretly she was coordinating with Aunt Lee to show up! I was truly truly surprised and ecstatic to have her there. Thank you again Mom for coming!!!

Week 27 -- Readying the Nursery

With 3 months to go, the nursery preparation is picking up speed. For those familiar with our house we've picked the room directly adjacent to our bedroom (on the front of the house, on left at the top of the stairs).In these pictures Scott starts the initial trimming of the walls. We choose a bright friendly yellow (yes, a neutral color because we aren't finding out if the baby is a boy or a girl), which will accent the wallpaper border and bedding set we finally agreed upon.

Maddie of course is a bit curious of the activity in this previously ignored room. We decided we liked her as a Golden, not a Yellow, Retriever, so she was "locked" out of the room.

Week 26 -- Jon & Jen's Wedding

It is Week 26 and we were off to Cedar Rapids IA for the weekend, for Jon and Jen's wedding. Jon is one of Scott's good friends from college (U. of Iowa -- go Hawkeyes!). It was a great trip, as its been a few months since we saw many of our good friends.

I did learn at the wedding that my days of dancing it up are suspended for the next few months. I just don't feel as graceful with this growing belly!

Sunday was a little tough to get home, with 6-12 inches of snow predicted for parts of Iowa, but we made it.

Maddie says hello!

The blog needs some posts from Maddie! So, WOOF!

An odd trait of this dog is that when she's given a rawhide bone, she'll carry it around for 4-8 weeks, often whining (or wanting us to play with her with it, like you would a ball).

Eventually she sits down and chews it. But of course, this is only after ensuring she's left it in the middle of the floor for Jen or Scott to trip on (in the dark of the night), numerous times.

But we love her tons anyway!